HRC responded to the Clark County School District’s decision to protect transgender and gender diverse students with an explicitly inclusive policy. The policy was approved last night by a 4-3 vote.

“These long-overdue protections will make all the difference to the countless transgender and gender diverse youth in Clark County,” said Briana Escamilla, HRC Nevada State Director. “Every student deserves to live free from fear of discrimination so they can develop their strengths and thrive socially, emotionally and academically. As we gear up for back-to-school, we hope schools across Clark County will move quickly to implement this inclusive policy to protect the safety and wellbeing of every student.”

At yesterday’s meeting, the Clark County School District approved the final language to protect transgender and gender diverse students. The draft regulation was first released earlier this summer, after the Clark County School District passed a resolution to draft a regulation to address the needs of gender diverse and transgender students. This resolution followed the passage of Nevada’s anti-bullying state law. Nevada law has also prohibited discrimination on the basis of gender identity in education since 2011.

Currently, fourteen states and the District of Columbia address discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in public education. Anti-LGBTQ stigma continues to negatively impact LGBTQ young people causing problems like depression, violenceand substance abuse, but studies show that support from peers, family and other important adults, such as teachers, often leads to better outcomes, particularly among transgender youth.